Tag Archives: True Blue

Editor Picks Top 10 Gems (Albums and Tracks) of 2011 and Final Wrap

31 Dec

Editor's Gems of 2011 - Top 10 Tracks and Albums

Editors Picks Top 10 Gems Albums and Tracks of 2011

So that’s it. One more year down the drain. Good, I love moving forward. This has been one of those odd years where the new bands were good, the sophomore albums were unusually FANTASTIC. Really, I had a hard time clearing our albums from Girls, Toro Y Moi, Cults, White Denim, etc. These albums are so great that I truly believe we are at a water shed moment in the music industry. Where the social connected world has created ARTIST, who can create and share. We listen, we judge, they create more and boom, we have great records. I hope the Apple created .99 cent song world is over and that we’re headed back to an age of records. Oh well. We’re not there yet, so I’ll share my final lists for 2011. It was a great year for the Muse, Turk and me. We have new little Hummingbirds fluttering around our homes, even more inspiration to weed out the Top 40 drivel and put on some quality music for our little ones to dance to.

EDITORS PICKS Top 10 Albums of 2011
10. CultsCults
9. White DenimD
8. Young GalaxyShapeshifting
7. The VaccinesWhat Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
6. EMA Past Life Martyred Saints
5. YuckYuck
4. James Vincent McMorrowEarly In The Morning
3. DonkeysBorn With Stripes
2. Other LivesTamer Animals
1. GirlsFather, Son, Holy Ghost
If want to grab these and our Hummingbird winners on vinyl just grab them here

EDITORS PICKS Top 10 TRACKS of 2011

10. Nurses – “Fever Dreams”

9. Kurt Vile – “Jesus Fever”

8. Sun Airway – “Waiting on You”

7. Dirty Beaches – “True Blue”

6. Cults – “Oh My God”

5. Yuck – “Georgia”

4. James Vincent McMorrow – “If I Had A Boat”

3. Girls – “VomitGirls – Vomit

2. Other Lives – “Tamer Animals”

1. White Denim – “Street Joy”

HEAR THE ENTIRE LIST ON SPOTIFY RIGHT NOW

PLEASE SUPPORT THESE BANDS. I read a post from the lead singer of Pepper Rabbit last night and he stated “It’s very hard to be an “indie band” these days. You spend 100% of your time trying to get the band to another level, 75% of the time on tour losing money, and the rest of your time in either complete elation, or complete doubt.” So support them, love them, show them how much you care. Share them in this new socially connected world and claim them as yours. Claim them like a lover because they work their asses off to do it for you. I love new bands and I will spend every hour of my life finding something new for you.

Follow our favorites — all the Hummingbirds

Signing off
RE NBD

Best New Bands of 2011 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD: #7 Dirty Beaches

14 Dec

Emanating from the underground is a new sound that chills the bone - Dirty Beaches

Best New Band of 2011
#7 Hummingbird Award – Dirty Beaches

You might hear Alex and think it’s a novelty, but I assure you that it’s not. The “dirtiness” is a great description, he sounds like the aura of Elvis emanating from an opium den. It’s dirty, etherial and mind altering. Just listen to the tracks below and you’ll find that they’re unique enough to give him the nod for one of the greatest new artists of 2011. Enjoy.

Vitals:
Hometown: East Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Members: Alex Zhang Hungtai; solo performer, sound-smith, and trans-Pacific nomad. Born in Taiwan, Hungtai has made Toronto, Honolulu, Montreal, and Vancouver his homes.
Sonic Soulmates™: Lou Reed, Roy Orbison, Misfits, if Depeche Mode came from the 60′s and early 60′s beat bands…
Trackables™:
“Lord Knows Best”

“True Blue”

“Sweet 17”

Click here to listen on your iPhone or iPad
Dirty Beaches “Lord Knows Best”
Dirty Beaches – “True Blue”
Dirty Beaches – “Sweet 17”

Follow:
Official Site
Spotify

Original Post: Band of the Day 1.12.11

WHAT ARE THE HUMMINGBIRDS?
2011 Winners
Hummingbird Award #13: Lana Del Rey
Hummingbird Award #12: WATERS
Hummingbird Award #11: Suuns
Hummingbird Award #10: La Sera
Hummingbird Award #9: Sun Airway
Hummingbird Award #8: White Denim

Band of the Day (1.12.11) Dirty Beaches

12 Jan

early eerie creepy Elvis crooning creates Dirty Beaches

Band of the Day (1.12.11) Dirty Beaches

Can this really be true, this is our first Canadian band of 2011. WOW! Doesn’t matter, because we have a slew of them slated for January and February. Dirty Beaches is rock-a-billy mood music. I swear these are recent recordings. We didn’t find them buried in our stax box, or at some used record store in The Haight. Alex Zhang Hungtai is a solo performer who’s made homes in all parts of the world, primarily the Far East and Canada. The Eastern influence coupled with the chill of Canada, helps create a very unique classic early 60’s Elvis meets the Devil sound. He is my Lord Huron of 2011…so far. Once again, Mr. Arizona Turk was doing his work. Great find

Vitals:
Hometown: East Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Members: Alex Zhang Hungtai; solo performer, sound-smith, and trans-Pacific nomad. Born in Taiwan, Hungtai has made Toronto, Honolulu, Montreal, and Vancouver his homes.
Sonic Soulmates: Lou Reed, Roy Orbison, Misfits, if Depeche Mode came from the 60’s and early 60’s beat bands…
Must Hear Tracks:

“Lord Knows Best” – This is by far his best track.

“True Blue” – I think my mom was dumped in high school when this song was playing in her Chevy. Alex nails it here.

Follow:
Official Website
MySpace